Winston Churchill once said that “He who fails to plan is planning to fail”, making a strong case for the importance of thinking ahead. Though we’re still in the early days of October, it’s not too soon to start planning for the end of classes in April. Whether you’re considering a summer job, a graduate program or the start of a career, the University of Guelph-Humber’s Career Services can help you get ready.
Plan early, plan carefully and remember that the sooner you visit Career Services, the more they can help. Here are some of the ways they can get you started:
Revamp your cover letters and resume: A cover letter and resume are often an employer’s first introduction to you, so rewrite them to showcase your new skills. “Shift your resume from a high school student looking for a part-time job to an entry-level professional, ready to break into their field,” says Susan Thomas, Manager of Career Services. “A good first impression can make all the difference, so market what you’ve learned as university graduate.” Each day, Career Support Peers are available to review cover letters, resumes and give feedback.
Help you build your network: “People are increasingly finding jobs through their personal and professional connections, so networking is especially important” says Ms. Thomas. “We can help coach you through the dos and don’ts of the process. Do be curious and ask questions, but don’t be too aggressive. You’re looking to start a relationship, not outright ask for a job.”
Start your career portfolio: Career Services can help you begin putting together a career portfolio, which collects together examples of your work. It’s a living record of your skills and accomplishments, and can help show an employer what you’re capable of. Examples of your work can often tell them more than just a resume can.
Understand all of your options and set your goals: Your degree and diploma can open doors you may not have considered and Career Services can help you survey all of your options. “Students don’t always realize all of the skills they’ve built through their classes and placements,” says Ms. Thomas. “We’ve created career planning guides for each program to help them recognize everything they’ve learned and the job opportunities those skills can lead to.” With a sense of all the choices available to you, you can set goals about what you want to do, when you want to do it and how to do it.
Make a smart job search strategy: How you go about looking for work can be the difference between frustration and success. Reach out to your contacts and search for interesting organizations on social media. Also be sure to look at the right job sites. GHworks is a great resource for students looking for work and other sites like Eluta, TalentEgg and Workopolis are all great places to start.
Prep for an interview: Once your top-notch resume and cover letter land you an interview, you want to make sure you’re prepared. “Preparing for some of the most common interview questions and having a plan for how you’ll answer can be a big confidence booster,” says Ms. Thomas. “Interviewing is stressful, so going through a mock interview process beforehand can help you deal with nerves and make sure you’re ready to put your best foot forward.”
Not looking for work? They can still help: If you’re interested in a post-graduate certificate, graduate school or a professional program like teaching or law, Career Services can still help you out. Visit them early (think second or third year) for advice about entry requirements and suggestions for volunteer work or classes that can make it possible.
Visit Career Services’ webpage to learn more about their services or send them an email to book an appointment.